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School of Public Policy and Leadership News

The School of Public Policy and Leadership employs an interdisciplinary approach to create knowledge and understanding to support effective policy and governance through collaborations of faculty, students, and the greater community. Our programs enable students to master the key principles of public management, research, and public policy so they can spark change, improvement, and resiliency in communities.

Current Public Policy and Leadership News

exterior of Maryland Administrative Building
Campus News |

UNLV Lifelong Learning brings alumni back as community educators in workforce development and personal enrichment courses.

Outdoor view
Campus News |

A collection of top headlines featuring UNLV faculty and students.

The top of a UNLV graduation cap overlooking a crowd of graduation students at Commencement.
People |

The newest Rebel grads reflect on their time at UNLV and share what the future holds.

Angelique Burton in front of UNLV sign on academic mall
People |

At the UNLV School of Social Work, this professional programs manager helps students navigate college through connection and mentorship.

blurred figure in UNLV commencement robe
Campus News |

UNLV’s commencement tradition highlights exceptional students who embody the highest level of academic excellence and community involvement.

Ashley Pruitt graduates with a Doctorate of Public Policy at commencement.
Business and Community |

Alumna Ashley Pruitt credits Doctorate of Public Policy degree for teaching her how to reach legislators — and their constituents.

Public Policy and Leadership In The News

Brit Brief

A ride on Elon Musk's Vegas Loop reveals an underwhelming, slow tunnel system far from original promises. Critics call it a private transit scam benefiting developers, not the public.

Guardian

Ten years ago, after complaining that traffic was ‘driving him nuts’, Musk’s Boring Company began building underground tunnels to ease congestion on the roads. Did he overpromise and underdeliver?

Nevada Independent

Despite the positive numbers, there is still widespread angst in Nevada about cost of living. For example, a 2025 UNLV survey found many more Nevadans view themselves as worse off financially compared with a year ago.

The Nevadan

Though many people in Nevada live in food deserts, local nonprofits and agencies are working together to fix the issue.

The Fallon Post

Six out of 3,700 students were recognized this week by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) as Outstanding Graduates, including Fallon’s own Kelli Kelly, who is graduating with a master’s degree in urban leadership.

Las Vegas Sun

When Fallon resident Kelli Kelly walks across the stage at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center tonight to receive her master’s degree in urban leadership, she’ll do so knowing her work created real change. She’s being recognized as one of six outstanding graduates from this year’s class, finishing with a near-perfect grade-point average and an impressive roster of professional achievements. Her crowning moment came last year when the Nevada Legislature passed Assembly Bill 352 — landmark legislation expanding cottage food sales regulations and establishing one of the first statewide frameworks for cottage cosmetics businesses in the country. The bill was Kelly’s passion project, and she’s quick to credit UNLV’s support as a driving force behind its passage.

Public Policy and Leadership Experts

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An expert on policy communication and the use of technology in government, particularly artificial intelligence (AI).
Lee Bernick is a professor with expertise in state and local public policy, survey research, public budgeting, and legislative behavior.
An expert in regional demographics, workforce development, and sustainable economic development.
An expert on local government and public policy. 
An expert on HR management and development.
An expert on sustainability governance by cities, states, and corporations globally.

Recent Public Policy and Leadership Accomplishments

Ashlee Frandell (Public Policy), Aya Shata (Journalism and Media Studies), and Drew Blasco (Public Health) were awarded the iRDA Sustainability in Arid Lands Funding grant to support research on local county governments' adoption of AI, focusing on challenges, resource limitations, and strategies to enable effective and responsible…
Aya Shata (Journalism and Media Studies) and Ashlee Frandell (Public Policy) were awarded the iRDA Creative Media, Entertainment, and Cultural Industries Funding Competition to support research examining public communications professionals’ trust in generative AI and its influence on communication practices in the government sector.
Benjamin Leffel's (Public Policy and Leadership) TEDx talk, "Cities & corporations vs. climate," has been published, offering a rethinking of climate action from the bottom-up, and across sectors
Jaewon Lim and Aaron Collette (Public Policy and Leadership), along with Euijune Kim (a former visiting scholar to UNLV) recently published an article in the Growth and Change journal titled, "Human Capital and Regional Resilience: Nevada Computable General Equilibrium Approach." In this study, they …
Ashley Noel Pruitt (Medicine; Public Policy), associate director of technical assistance and policy for the Behavioral Health Education, Retention, and Expansion Network of Nevada (BeHERE NV), was recognized this month by the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs at UNLV. Pruitt is a doctorate candidate in the School of Public Policy and Leadership (…
Vicky Albert (Social Work), Jaewon Lim, and Daeyoung Kwon (both Public Policy and Leadership) recently published an article in the Sustainability Journal. In their article "Geographic Analysis of Four Social Safety Nets’ Responsiveness to the Pandemic Recession and Social Sustainability," they investigate…